Texas Star Award
Beginning in 2005, TESLAW has presented the “Texas Star Award” to an individual honoree for “Outstanding Contribution and Achievement in the Field of Entertainment Law.” Potential candidates for the award are suggested, discussed and voted on by members of the Planning Committee for the Texas Entertainment Law Institute (ELI) and presented during ELI’s Annual Conference. Factors the committee considers in its Texas Star Award deliberations include the significance of an individual’s career role in entertainment law, influence as a published author in the field, record of activities as an entertainment law educator in industry and academic settings, and impactful services work in organizations and events relevant to the entertainment law community.
2022 - Hon. Suzanne Barnett
The 2022 Texas Star Award was presented to Judge Suzanne Barnett who served as th Chief Copyright Royalty Judge at the Copyright Royalty Board (CRB) in Washington, DC.
2019 - Regan Smith
The 2019 Texas Star Award was presented to Regan Smith for her work related to the Music Modernization Act.
2018 - Michael Donaldson
The 2018 Texas Star Award was presented to Michael Donaldson for his tireless efforts representing independent filmmakers. Mr. Donaldson is the industry’s leading expert on fair use and other clearance-related issues.
2017 - Nancy E. Wolff
The 2017 Texas Star Award was presented to Nancy E. Wolfe, author of “The Professional Photographer’s Legal Handbook.”
2016 - Chris Castle
The 2016 Texas Star Award was presented to Chris Castle for his important voice in the national debate over music industry and copyright law policy.
2015 - Todd and Jeff Brabec
The 2015 Texas Star Award was presented to Todd and Jeff Brabec, the Deems Taylor Award winning co-authors of the best- selling music business book “Music, Money and Success: The Insider’s Guide to Making Money in the Music Business.”
2014 - Stan Soocher
The 2014 Texas Star Award was presented to Stan Soocher, the Editor-in- Chief of the monthly Entertainment Law & Finance trade publication since its start in 1985.
2013 - Cindi Lazzari
The 2013 Texas Star Award was presented posthumously to Cindi Lazzari for her tireless efforts on behalf of artist’s rights in Texas.
2012 - Steve Winogradsky
The 2012 Texas Star Award was presented to Steve Winogradsky, author of the book, “Music Publishing: The Complete Guide.”
2011 - Lionel “Lon” Sobel
The 2011 Texas Star Award was presented to Lionel “Lon” Sobel, founder of the Entertainment Law Reporter and entertainment law professor at Southwestern Law School in Los Angeles.
2010 - Mike Tolleson
The 2010 Texas Star Award was presented to Mike Tolleson, Director of the Entertainment Law Institute (ELI) since its inception in 1990 and co-founder and initial chair of TESLAW in 1989.
2009 - Shannon Jones, Jr.
The 2009 Texas Star Award was presented posthumously to Shannon Jones, Jr., co-founder of the Dallas based Passman Jones law firm. Attorney Jerry Alexander, a lifelong friend and business partner of Shannon Jones, accepted the Texas Star Award on his behalf.
2008 - Donald Passman
The 2008 Texas Star Award was presented to Donald Passman, a University of Texas and Harvard Law School graduate whose Los Angeles-based career has included many years of representing major recording artists. His book, “All You Need To Know About the Music Business,” is one of the most useful and popular books for anyone in the music industry today.
2007 - Marybeth Peters
In 2007, the ELI honored Marybeth Peters, then the U.S. Register of Copyrights.
2006 - Jay Cooper
The second recipient, receiving the 2006 Texas Star Award, was Jay Cooper, an entertainment law pioneer who represents many major artists as well as industry organizations.
2005 - William Krasilovsky
The first recipient was William Krasilovsky, author of “This Business of Music.” The book was published in 1963 and is considered the first significant book for lawyers about the music business.
